Signaling system.



No. 660,469. Patented oct. 2s, |900.

E. .1. slLKMAN.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

(Application filed Mar. 25, 1898. Renewed Aug. 6, 1900.) @in Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 660,469. Patented 0st. 23, |900.

E. J. SILKMAN.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

(Application led Mar. 25, 1898. Renewed Aug. 6, 1900.) m0 Model.) 4 sheds-sheet 2.

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No. 666,469. Patented oct. 23,"|9o0.` E. .1. .slLKMAn SIGNLING SYSTEM. (Application filed Mar. 25.1898. Reewqd Aug. 6, l1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.v

(No Model.)

WWW/WMM N6. 660,469. Patented oct. 23, |960.

6. J. SILKMAN'. SIGNALING SYSTEM.

(Application filed MarA 25, 1898. Renewedy Aug. 6, 1900.)

@No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

m: Non sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss c,

UNiTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. SILKMAN, OF BALTIMORE,

MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES SELDEN AND EDGAR WESLEY DAY, OF vSAME PLACE.`

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,469, dated October 23, 1900.

Application iiled March 25,1898. Renewed August 6, 1900. Serial No.261059. '(No model.)

To ull-whom, it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, EDWARD J. SILKMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in methods of and apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals for use either on shipboard or shore and either by day or at night.

My invention consist-s, broadly, in transmitting signals by semaphore or other signaling devices and making the signals manifest at the receiver in the forni of the letters of the alphabet or the signs of a code. This is accomplished by means of a rotating disk or plate, which can be rotated at any desired or predetermined speed and whose angular motion through any predetermined angle is used to indicate a letter, numeral, or other symbol previously agreed upon. The speed of rotation of the disk or plate at the receiving end must bear a known relation to the speed of rotation of a device for making the signals at the sending end, the two preferably rotating at the saine rate of speed, though not necessarily in absolute synchronism. The rotation of either or both the sending or receiving devices is only necessary during the actual time of signaling, and either or both of these devices may be started or stopped at will or adjusted entirely independent of the other.

The system includes at each end--as, for instance, on each ship or at each station-a sending device operated by atrailer-and-sunliower arrangement for making a visualor other signal and also a receiving device for either receiving aV message from another station or for verifying the accuracy of the message sent.

The system is not dependent upon any1 connection between the apparatus from which the signals are sent and that upon which they are received.

The said invention also includes the coinbinations of devices and details of construction hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents my improved signaling apparatus in side elevation with portions broken away. Fig. 2 represents a section of the same, taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 8 represents the sunflower-and-trailer device as viewed from the front, and Fig. 4 represents 6o the same as viewed from the rear. Fig. 5 represents a section of the signaling apparatus, taken along the line 5 5, Fig. l, and lookingW toward the left, the keyboard being omitted.

Fig. 6 represents a plan View of the keyboard, 65 and Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the circuits and connections foroperating a semaphore on an enlarged circuit.

Similar letters refer to similar parts th roughout the several views.

A represents a flanged base, upon which are mounted supports B for the shaft C. Loosely mounted upon this shaft and near one end thereof is a plate D, which is held rigid in any convenient way, as by being sei cured to the support B, as at b. Pivoted to the outside of the plate D, as at e, is an arm E, made preferably very thin and adapted to` engage the face of the said plate. The arm E is connected by a small wire or rod el to an 8o armature F, the latter being pivoted to the face of the plate D, as at f. 'lhis armature r F is adapted to vibrate before the poles of the electroinagnet F', which is also secured to the face of the plate D. After being displaced the arm E is brought back. to the vertical position by the small spring e2. The plate D is provided with two apertures Dl and D2, which while the arm E is in the vertical position are shut out thereby from the view of the op- 9o erator. The arm E thus constitutes a shutter for closing or opening these apertures.

E' represents a flat arm pivoted, as at e3, to the opposite side of the plate D from the arm E. A portion of the arm E engages the face of the plate and is normally held in horizontal position by the spring c4. In this position the arm E' rests against a pin or stop e5 and covers the lower aperture D2. By pressing on the handle e6 the other end of the arm E' roo "'b'ut this is a mere matter of will pass from in front of the aperture D2 and will be stopped in its upward movement by the pin or stop-piece e7.

The arm E may be arranged, as by friction, a spring, or otherwise, to remain in any position to which it may be moved by the handle e6. Also loosely mounted on the shaft C and immediately behind the fixed plate D is a rotary disk H. This disk H is provided with two or more rows of apertures h and h', arranged in circular form, one row within the other. Over each of these apertures is placed a piece of translucent material ft2-such as tracing-paper, linen, or the like-and upon each one of which is printed the corresponding letter, numeral, or symbol employed `in signaling'.

The letters ofthe alphabet and symbols are preferably arranged in the outer row of apertures and the numerals in the inner row, arrangement, which may be varied at will. Obviously, instead of placing a separate piece of translucent material over each aperture a continuous piece or disk may be secured to one face of the disk H, and the letters, symbols, or numerals printed on it registering with their respective apertures.

In order that the letters, numerals, or symbols may more readily be seen through the apertures Dl and D2 when the arm E is withdrawn, especially at night, a light may be placed behind the disk H. This light, obviously, may be of any convenient form. In the drawings I have shown a small incandescent electric lamp M, carried within a case M', which latter may be secured to the plate D in any convenient way, as by an arm m, provided with a double flange portion m', which engages the upper part of the plate D, as shown. Obviously the light may be held in the proper position in anyother convenient way and may be removed or attached to the device when desired. In Fig. 5 the light is detached.

A gear K is rigidly secured to the disk H and is loosely mounted upon the shaft C. This gear K meshes with a gear K, and this latter gear K meshes with a gear K2, which latter is mounted fast on the shaft C. The gear K is mounted in a recess k and between the lugs k of a worm-wheel K0. This wormwheel KO is loosely mounted on the shaft C between the gears K and K2. By this arrangement motion is transmitted from the gear K2 to the gear K through the gear K', and owing to this arrangement of the gears the angular position of the disk H or gear K maybe varied relative to that of the shaft C or gear K2 without altering the speed of the shaft C or without altering' the relative speed between the shaft C and disk H. The object of this arrangement will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The worm-wheel K0 meshes with a worm K3, mounted in a stand K4 beneath the said wheel. This worm K3 is provided with a shaft k2, having at one end a handle 7c3. By turning this handle the desired angular motion may be imparted to the worm-wheel K0. The power to drive the shaft is applied through the worm L and worm-wheel L', or in any other convenient way. This power may be derived from an electric motor, clockwork, water-motor, or any other source which may be found convenient, it being essential only that this shaft should be driven at a constant speed so long as the apparatus is in actual operation. The portions of the apparatus thus far described constitute the receiver.

The sender or transmitter consistsof a keyboard, suniiower-and-trailer device, and semaphore or other signaling apparatus. The rea ceiver and transmitter at the same station may be made separate, but for the sake of clearness, as well as forsecuring a more compact form of device, I have shown both included in the same machine.

Upon the shaft C is loosely mounted the sunflower device N, consisting principally of a plurality of conducting-segments n, mounted in an insulating-ring n', which is secured to a disk n2. The disk ncis then mounted on the shaft C. The disk n2 is prevented from rotating by securing it in any convenient way, as to an upright n3,- but obviously the same result could be obtained by having the trailer stationary and causing the sunflower to revolve.

N represents an arm mounted fast on the shaft C and provided at its outer end with a brush or trailer n4, which is adapted to pass over and make contact With the segments of the sunflower device as the arm N rotates. The segments of this suuliower device correspond in number to the maximum number of letters and symbols on any circular row on the disk H. In the drawings I have indicated twenty-six letters and four symbols on the outer row and a less number of numerals on the small circular row. Therefore there should be thirty segments in the suniiower device. This number may obviously be increased or diminished at will. Each segment of the sunflower device is electrically connected toacorresponding key ofthe keyboard. This electrical connection is shown in the drawings to consist of a plurality of wires which pass into a cable N0, the wires being connected to the various segments, as shown most clearly in Fig. t. The manner of connecting these segments with the keyboard may be varied if other ways are found preferable. The keyboard consists principally of a plurality of metal keys P, secured at or near one end to a plate of insulating material P', while at their other ends they are each provided with acontact-piecep. Beneath the contact-pieces p of the keys is a metal platep, so arranged that when the free ends of the keys are de` pressed the contact-pieces will make electric connection between the key and the plate. The plates or supports P and p' are mounted on any suitable way upon the base A.

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The wires from the several segments of the suniiower device are carried up through the base A and connected to the keys, as shown at P2. The plate p' may be provided with a plurality of metal projections p3, one under each key. The plate p is connected in an electric circuit which passes from this plaie through a battery X, through an electromagnet R, a switch S, electromagnets F', shaft C, trailer-and-suniiower device, and then to the keys P. This circuit is made complete by depressing that key of the keyboard which is electrically connected to the segment of the sunflower device with which the brush or trailer is at that inst-ant making contact.

The effect of closing the circuit is to energize the electromagnet R. This magnet R when thus energized operatesa shutter,which at each instant the magnet is energized allows a beam of light to be emitted.

I have indicated in Fig. l one form of signaling device or semaphore, where T represents an inelosed arc or other light, and U is a shutter which normally prevents the light from being emitted. This shutter is pivoted at u and provided with an arm u', which carries the armature of the magnet R. When the magnet R becomes energized, it attracts the arm u' and causes the shutter to move to the left, which allows the light to be emitted. I do not confine myself to the use of this particular form of shutter, as it is obvious that any well-known ferm may be employed. The form of signaling device shown in Fig. 7 will be described later.

, The operation of the device and method of Signaling shown in Figs. 1 to 6 are as follows: It will be assumed that we are signaling from one ship to another and that each ship is provided with the apparatus shown in Fig. l. A certainletter or symbol- K, for examplehaving been previously agreed upon as the call-signal, the signalman upon the ship from which it is desired to signalcloses his switch S upon the contact Y and holds down the key of his keyboard representing the letter K. As long as he continues to press this key the light T on his ship will liash successively as the trailer comes in contact with that segment of the sunflower device representing the letter K. The signalman on the other ship seeing the successive iiashes from the sending ship sets his switch S upon the contact Z and puts his apparatus in motion. He then presses the key V at each instant that he sees ai'lash from the other ship. If the shaft C of his device should be revolving in approximate synchronism with the shaft C of the device on the other ship, every time he presses thekey V the person receiving will see the letter K through the aperture D' of the plate D, this letter K7 being one of the letters arranged in a circle on the disk H. At first he will probably not see the letter K at each instant that he presses the key, as some other part of his disk H will probably lie beneath his open shutter E. To set his instrument in synchronism with that of the sender,y

at the receiver is enabled to seethe letter K when it appears in front o f the center of the aperture D' at each instant that the key V is closed, as the shutter E is then opened, the circuit being then completed from the battery X through the magnet F. XVhen the person to whom the signal is sent has thus set his device in synchronism with that upon the other ship, he makes this known by changing his switch S to contact Y and pressing on a predetermined key of his keyboard-'that representing the letter L, forexample. The person on the other ship will seehis signal and then proceed to send the message. The person sending the message sets his switch S upon contactY, and the persony receiving sets his switch S upon contact Z. The sender then sends his message by pressing down the keys of the keyboard of his instrument just as when writing on a type-writer. When he presses a key of the keyboard and the trailer strikes the segment of the sunflower corresponding to the key depressed, the shutter will allow the signal-light T to flash, and at the same time the senders magnet F will operate the arm E and allow the sender to see by the letters upon the disk D whether his device is properly set or not. In receiving this message an observer seeing the dashes goes to switch or key Vl and at each instant that he sees a signal from the other ship he presses his key V', and thus completes the circuit through his magnet F and causes it to operate the arm E. At each instantI that this arm E is drawn aside, as before explained, the person receiving is enabled to seethe letter upon the revolving disk H which corresponds to theletter sent. Thus we see that the person at the receiver, without seeing the signal-light from the other, is enabled to read the message directly from the receiving in' stru ment and in the characters of the alphabet or other symbols.

Symbols may be used` in addition to the letters or may be substitutes for them, as desired. Thus the period will indicate the end of a sentence, as in ordinary punctuation, the dash the end of a word, the anchor the end of a message, and a star may indicate a change ing the numerals on the disk H to be seen when the arm E is withdrawn instead of the letters, as would otherwise be the case.-

In changing from letters to numerals the sender does not alter his apparatus at all, and

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all that the receiver is required to do is to press the arm e6, as explained, When the numerals are read just as Was the case With the letters.

Obviously to change back to letters from numerals the same signal may be used as changing from letters to numerals, the operator at the receiving-station having only to release the arm e6 When it returns to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the apparatus is again ready for the reception of the message. As before stated, the shafts C of all of the devices rotate in approximate synchronism with each other While the signals are being' sent and received. There are many Ways of maintaining this synchronism. For example, each device may be operated bya clock-movement, which may be regulated by a chronometer; or the devices may be operated by small electric motors, and the current operating these motors may be kept constant by the action of a chronometer; or a certain speed of the instruments may be agreed upon as the signaling speed and each device started up When it is desired to signal until it attains this speed. Thus the sender, desiring to transmit a signal, starts his apparatus, and When it has attained the speed agreed upon, which speed may be determined in any Well-known Way and maintained constant as above described, he then commences to signal, as explained. The person to Whom the signal is sent, seeing the signal, starts his machine and regulates its speed until it attains thatagreed upon. He then responds to the other ship or station and receives the signal, as before explained. While I have shown and described my sigwhich is made to flash for each signal, I by no means confine myself to the light alone. Thus I may as readily operate other forms of semaphore for day signaling.

In Fig. 7 is shown, diagrammatically, how an arm-and-ball semaphore may be operated by my device. This semaphore consists of a large ball W, composed of some light material, such as aluminium, or it may be made of can vas mounted on a Wire frame and painted. This ball may be painted White With a band of red around it in order that it may be readily seen from a distance, or obviously the ball may be painted or marked in any other Way found best to enable its being seen from a long distance. The ball W' is mounted on one arm w of a lever pivoted, as at w', and carrying at its opposite end the armature @U2 of the solenoid W', which armature should-preferably be slightly lighter than the Weight of the ball and its arm, so that little power Will be needed to move the ball through the required distance; but the ball Will fall back in the box W2 by its own Weight When the solenoid cases to act. The ball and solenoid are preferably mounted in a box or case W2. The solenoid W' may be excited from the dynamo-circuit of the ship by means of the renaling apparatus as used to operate a light,

`lay R, so that Whenever its magnet is energized it closes the dynamo-circuit wo through the solenoid.

The rest of the apparatus of Fig. 7 represents, diagrammatically, the apparatus shown inthe preceding figures and hereinbefore fully described. Normally the ball W occupies the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 7 being thus obscured from View by the box W2; but When a signal is sent, as by pressing the key P, the magnet R Will become energized and Will attract its armature r, which will immediately close the circuit wo through it, which Will cause the ball to rise to the position shown in dotted lines, When it may be readily seen from a distance.

When the magnet R ceases to be energized,

its armature Will break the circuit wo and Will cause the solenoid to release the armature w2 and allow the ball tol return toits original position. Thus every appearance of the ball W corresponds to a flash of the light before described. I may alsoy cause a Whistle to be blown for each signal, as by connecting the arm w to the whistlecord, whereby signals may be made in thick or foggy Weather.

While I have referred to ships especially, it Will be obvious'that this method of signaling is capable of Wide application upon land, as for coast-signals, army-signals, and in various other Ways which will readily suggest themselves to any one acquainted With the system. The apparatus itself is capable of many modifications, which might be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Although I have shown and described the apparatus from Which the signal is sent as disconnected from the apparatus upon Which the signal is received, it is obvious that the two may be operated by connecting them by a line-Wire, especially when used upon land. In this event the semaphore Would be disconnected from the apparatus and the key V" dis'- pensed With, and the line-Wire would pass from the sunfloWer-and-trailer device a't one station to the receiver at the other, so thatan impulse is sent over line When a key is depressed When the trailer strikes the corresponding segment on the sunflower, and this impulse passes into the magnet F at the other end and causes the proper signal to be made manifest.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a sunfloWer-and-trailer device, of keys electrically connected with. said sunflower and trailer; an electromagnet in the circuit With said keys and sunfiower and trailer; a signaling device operated by said electromagnet, a receiver-circuit and device for making and breaking the same, and a receiver in said circuit and in synchronism with said sunfloWer-and-.trailer device, and adapted to make the signals thus sent visually mani- IOO IIO

fest, the said receiver being disconnected from ihe transmitter, substantially as described.

2. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with the sunfiower device, its trailer' and segment-circuits; of a plurality of keys adapt` ed to complete the said segment-circuits; an electromagnet connected in the circuit with said keys, su n iiower and trailer; a semaphore operated by said electromagnet, a receiver-` circuit and device for making and breaking the same, and a receiver in said circuit and in synchronism with the said sunflower-andtrailer device, and adapted to make the signals from the semaphore manifest in visual characters, substantially as described.

3. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a rotary body having characters thereon, of a fixed body mounted near said rotary body, the said :fixed body having apertures which are adapted to register With the characters of said rotary body; an electromagnet; means operated by said electromagnet for opening and closing the apertures of said fixed body; means for energizing said magnet whereby the characters on the rotary body are displayed, and a shutter independently operated shutting off all but a predetermined number of' said apertures, substantially as described.

4. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a rotary body having characters thereon, of a fixed body mounted near said rotary body, the said fixed body having openings therethrough and registering with the said characters; a shutter adapted to close and open said openings, and an lelectromagnet and magnet-circuit adapted to operate said shutter, and thereby display the characters, and a second shutter independently operated and shutting oft a predetermined number of said openings, substantially as described.

5. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a rotary plate having characters thereon, of a fixed body mounted near said plate, the said iixed body having openings registering with the said characters; a shutter adapted to open and close the said openings; an electromagnet and circuit operating said shutter, and means for adjusting the angular position of said rotary plate while the same is in motion, substantially as described.

6. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a revoluble shaft, of a disk mounted fast thereon, the said disk being provided with a plurality of openings arranged in circular form; translucent material secured to Vsaid plate and covering said openings; charclose the openings of said fixed plate; an.

electromagnet actuating said shutter with means for exciting said magnet, and asecond shutter independently operated and adapted to shut off all but a predetermined number of said openings, substantially as described.

7. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a sunower-and-trailer device, of a plurality of keys connected in the segmentcircuits of the sunflower and trailer; an electromagnet connected in said circuit, a semaphore signaling device operated by said magnet; a plate having characters upon it and adapted to rotate in synchronism with the said trailer, and means for exhibiting said characters simultaneously with the operation of said semaphore, substantially as described.

8. In a signaling apparatus. the combination with a revoluble shaft, of a sunflowerand-trailer device mounted on said shaft; an electromagnet located in the circuit of the said trailer; a semaphore operated by said magnet; keys connected in the segment-circuits of said sunflower; a plate mounted to rotate with said shaft and provided with a plurality of characters; a fixed plate mounted near the rotary plate and having openings thereon adapted to register with the characters on the rotary plate; a shutter adapted to open and close said openings; au electro'- magnet operating said shutter, and means for exciting said magnet simultaneously with the excitation of the magnet which operates said semaphore, substantially as described.

9. In a signaling` apparatus, the combination with a rotary disk provided with a plurality of circular rows of characters, an opaque body provided with openings registering with each one of said circular rows of characters, a shutter adapted to close or open all of said openings, and a second shutter independently operated and adapted to shut olf all but one of said openings, substantially as described.

10. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a rotary disk provided with a plurality of circular rows of characters, an opaque body provided with openings registering with each one of said circular rows of characters, a radial shutter adapted to close or open all ot' said openings, and a transverse shutter operated by hand 'adapted to shut oif all but one of said openings, substantially as described.

11. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a rotary plate having characters thereon, of a fixed body mounted near said plate,the said fixed body having openings registering with the said characters; a shutter adapted to open and close the said openings; an electromagnet and circuit operating said shutter; a bevel-gear secured to said rotary plate; a second bevel-gear meshing with the first, and a third bevel-gear meshing with the second gear and driving the second gear; a revoluble support carrying the intermediate gear, and a shaft carrying the said third bevelgear, substantially as described.

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tive to said trailer while both or either are in motion, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a sunIiower-and-y trailer device, and means for signaling when the trailer has moved through any given angle relative to the suniiower, of a separatelyoperated disk rotating at the same speed wii h said trailer, and with characters on said disk corresponding to the various angles through which the trailer revolves, with means for rendering one of' said characters visible when the signal is made, and means for adjusting the angular position of said disk relative to said trailer while both or either are in motion, substantially as described.

14:. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a sunflower-and-trailer device, of keys electrically connected with said suniiower and trailer; an electroinagnet in the circuit with said keys and sunower and trailer; a signaling device operated by said electromagnet.; a receiver-circuit and device forrnakingand breaking the saine; a receiver located in said circuit having separatelyoperated disk rotating at the same speed with said trailer, and with characters on the said disk corresponding to the various angles through which the trailer revolves, substantially as described.,

i5. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a sunflower-and-trailer device, of keys electrically connected with said sunflower and trailer; an electromagnet in the circuit. with said keys and sunflower and trailer; a signaling device operated by said electromagnet; a receiver-circuit and device for making and breaking the same; a receiver located in said circuit, having a separately- 4operated dskrotating at the same speed with tion with a suniiower-and-trailer device, of

keys electrically connected with said sunflower and trailer; an electro'inagnet in the circuit with said ,keys and sunflower and trailer; a signalingA device operated by said electromagnet; a receiver-circuit and device for making and breaking the same; a receiver located in said circuit, having a separatelyoperated disk rotating at the same speed with said trailer, and with characters on said disk corresponding to the various angles through which the trailer revolves, and means for adjusting the angular position of said disk relative to said trailer, while both or either are in motion. substantially as described.

17, In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a rotary plate provided with a pluralityof openings therein, of translucent material covering said openings; characters printed on said translucent material infront of each opening; a fixed plate mounted near said rotary plate and covering a plurality of the characters thereon, the said fixed plate being provided with openings which register with the characters of said rotary plate; a radial shutter adapted to close or open the openings in the fixed plate and electromagnet and circuit actuating said sh utter with lmeans for energizing said magnet when signals are `set or received, and an independently-operated shutter adapted to cut o all but a predetermined number of said openings, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD J. SILKMAN.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. HAULENBEEK, JULIUs W. STUART. 

